Art & Culture – Girl Who Would be KING on Life, Style and INSPIRATION.

Bard: Where Comedy and Tragedy Intersect

Only Shakespeare can take you from light mischief to dark magic in 48 hours.

Jennifer Lines as Mrs. Page and Ashley Wright as Falstaff in Merry Wives of Windsor – 2026. Photo by Emily Cooper.

This weekend I went full-on Shakespeare: The Merry Wives of Windsor on Friday and Macbeth on Sunday. It started with comedy and chaos and ended with three mysterious figures, rising ambition, and the unraveling of a man who would become king (a theme that hits close to home for this blog).

Macbeth isn’t just a story about power – it’s about what happens when desire outruns destiny. Desire reaches for the crown; destiny decides whether it actually fits. That clash between longing and fate sets the tone for everything that follows – ambition, paranoia, and the slow, inevitable unraveling of a man who was never meant to wear the crown.

Seeing both a comedy and a tragedy back‑to‑back reminded me why Bard on the Beach is such a Vancouver summer ritual. Whether it’s mischief in Windsor or madness in Scotland, the productions always find a way to make Shakespeare feel alive, modern, and unexpectedly relatable. I must say, the casting in both plays is remarkable – the actors are incredibly multi‑talented.

But back to the first play. I first saw The Merry Wives of Windsor at Bard on the Beach in 2012, and each time the story becomes a slightly different version of the original. I’m not sure if Shakespeare would be rolling in his grave or not, but the 2026 modern twist brings it straight into present‑day Vancouver, set inside a local FIFA‑obsessed community centre – with playful costumes, contemporary touches, and a cheeky energy. It’s one of Shakespeare’s lighter stories, full of schemes, disguises, and characters who feel surprisingly familiar even centuries later. It drew plenty of laughs from the audience. Yes, it’s really silly – but fun.

The Acting Company of The Merry Wives of Windsor. Photo by Emily Cooper.

I saw Macbeth on the summer solstice – the longest day of the year – which felt strangely fitting. There’s something about watching one of Shakespeare’s darkest plays while the sky takes its time getting fully dark that makes the whole experience feel even more surreal. The staging, the pacing, the performances – everything felt sharp and intense. It’s a story that always hits hard, and this production leaned into that beautifully.

Munish Sharma and Tess Degenstein. Photo by Emily Cooper.

What struck me most wasn’t the plays themselves, but how differently they landed – one light, one dark, both reinvented for today. That’s the magic of Bard on the Beach: you never quite know what version of Shakespeare you’re going to get, but you always walk away thinking about it.

It’s also worth noting that Christopher Gaze, the founder and artistic director of Bard on the Beach, has been appointed to the Order of Canada – one of the country’s highest civilian honours. The recognition, presented by King Charles, highlights the impact he’s had on Canadian theatre and on the cultural life of Vancouver. Congratulations Mr. Gaze!

After spending the weekend under the tents, it’s easy to see why his contribution is being recognized at the national level.

By the way, you don’t need to be familiar with Shakespeare to enjoy these plays. Just saying.

For tickets: https://bardonthebeach.org/

Art & Culture

Come From Away – the Musical

Newfoundlanders are a little different from the rest of us Canadians – in the best possible way.

They even speak their own poetic version of English. “Stay where you’re to ‘til I comes where you’re at.” (Translation: Wait right there until I get there.) So if you “come from away,” you might only understand half of what they say…but their actions speak louder than words.

I just went to opening night of the Arts Club Theatre Company’s extraordinary musical Come From Away – now extended for three more weeks at the Stanley in Vancouver. This Tony‑nominated show tells the true story of 7,000 stranded passengers (mostly American and a handful from around the world) diverted to Gander, Newfoundland on 9/11, and the people who welcomed them by opening their hearts and their homes.

Cast of “Come From Away” – taken from website.

Gander, Newfoundland (aka The Rock): “You are here at the start of a moment, on the edge of the world, where the river meets the sea.” It was not what anyone expected. In many ways, it exceeded every expectation of how powerful kindness and community can be.

This musical is now at the top of my list. The cast is exceptional, the story is real and heartfelt, and the music is pure joy. There was even a live orchestra.

One detail that really stayed with me: the animals stranded in the cargo holds – two rare bonobos (similar to chimps), nine cats, and eight dogs, all cared for by local SPCA volunteer Bonnie Harris throughout the five‑day ordeal. The female bonobo even gave birth while in Gander, though the baby did not survive (possibly because of the stress). The audience was later relieved to learn that the female bonobo had a second baby that survived when it was re routed to the Columbus Zoo. Harris’s compassion left such a mark that the Columbus Zoo named the baby bonobo “Gander” in honour of the town. A beautiful reminder of humanity at its best.

Vancouver, go see this.

Come From Away is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). In Partnership with The Citadel Theatre, Edmonton

Book, Music, and Lyrics by
Irene Sankoff & David Hein

The extended run is until August 16 at the Stanley BFL CANADA Stage, 2750 Granville Street, Vancouver. Tickets for the added dates go on sale June 8. Tickets are available from $39 through the Box Office Call Centre at 604.687.1644 or at ArtsClub.com.

Art & Culture

The Perfect Wife – an unexpected expectation

How can you pass by a window that displays the words “The Perfect Wife” and not wonder what story sits behind it? It certainly got my attention.

Someone noticed me lingering, opened the door, and welcomed me into what turned out to be a surprisingly intriguing exhibit. One that dives into the complexity of the human condition while challenging social stereotypes and cultural norms we’ve all been handed. That someone, as it turned out, was the artist.

I loved the display and the humorous captions that accompanied them – especially now, when so many women are saying, “I want to be neither a Nurse nor a Purse.”

The Perfect Wife is a narrative-driven project that examines traditional heterosexual marriage through satire, exposing the cultural expectations placed on women through the nostalgic visual language of mid-century editorials.

Through exaggeration and irony, familiar stereotypes of devotion and obedience are pushed to their limits, revealing the social structures that sustain them. The result is not parody for its own sake, but satire with precision.

The Perfect Wife does not argue against marriage itself. Instead, it questions the conditions under which it is entered and the silent contracts it often contains. Beneath it lies a simple truth: choice is not universal.

Created through an all-female artistic collaboration, the exhibition combines photography, short film, installations, and art performance. Together, these elements construct a dysfunctional domestic environment that encourages viewers to reflect on tradition, identity, and the gender expectations that continue to shape women’s lives.

The story unfolds across familiar chapters – roles women are expected to perform when stepping into “tradition.” A Mother. A Cook. A Housekeeper. A Hen. A Personal Assistant. A Lover. A catalogue of emotional labour, domestic management and care work, absorbed into a single role, often without acknowledgment.

Within marriage, these imbalances often remain invisible, operating quietly behind closed doors where tradition can function as a form of control.

When I was married, I naturally took on the role of the cook – not out of obligation, but out of joy. I loved experimenting in the kitchen, and my late husband was the kind of appreciative audience who made every meal feel like a small celebration. I was equally lucky that he was a self-sufficient unicorn who handled laundry and cleanup without hesitation. That kind of mutual contribution is rarer than it should be, and only in hindsight do I see how much it shaped the harmony in our home.

But personal experience doesn’t erase the broader truth: millions of women worldwide are still denied basic rights. Progress is fragile, and history has shown us how easily it can be undone.

Presented as an immersive experience, the work invites viewers to consider a simple question: “If the image has evolved, but the structure has not – has anything truly changed.”

Walking through the exhibit, I couldn’t help noticing how much of this “perfect wife” mythology still lingers in subtle ways. It made me think about the roles we inherit without ever agreeing to them, and how important it is to name them before we can change them. The “perfect wife” may be a relic, but the pressure to perform her still exists – and seeing it exposed so clearly felt like a small act of liberation.

The exhibit is on until June 4th, 2025. Some editorial taken from the website. Photos (of photos) d. king

About the Artist:

Valeriia Polishchuk is a Ukrainian-Canadian multidisciplinary artist and filmmaker. Her bio says that she was raised by a single mother in a small town in Ukraine, she developed an early understanding of independence and the importance of a strong female voice.

Working primarily with photography and film, her visual language blends fashion elements, bold colours, striking patterns, and cinematic framing.

About the Gallery:

ADDITION (also known as Addition Agency) is a contemporary art and design gallery housed in a landmark building – located in Vancouver’s Armoury and Design District – a neighborhood shaped by architecture studios, design showrooms, and leading creative practices. The ground-floor gallery, originally conceived by Niels Bendtsen, has been reimagined as a spacious, light-filled environment dedicated to contemporary art, collectible design, and spatial storytelling.

Visitors are invited to explore a rotating selection of artworks, sculptural objects, and installations from Canadian, Peruvian, Mexican, and Pacific Northwest artists and makers.

https://www.addition.agency/

Art & Culture

Vancouver Opera: Puccini’s La Bohème

I caught the opening night performance as Vancouver Opera is closing its 2025–2026 season with Puccini’s La Bohème – and it’s already on track to become the highest‑grossing opera in the company’s 66‑year history, beating last season’s Carmen. Not bad for a story about starving artists who can’t afford heat.

Vancouver Opera’s 2026 production of La Bohème. Photo by Emily Cooper.

Jonelle Sills as Mimì and Matthew White as Rodolfo in Vancouver Opera’s 2026 production of La Bohème. Photo by Emily Cooper.

This Bohème delivered all the essentials: broke poets, freezing apartments, instant chemistry, dramatic breakups, and of course… a tragic death. Because it’s opera, and opera never lets anyone just live happily ever after.

We meet Rodolfo (a writer) and his roommates, who are so poor they literally burn a manuscript to stay warm. Enter Mimì, the sweet neighbour whose candle goes out, and suddenly we’re in a full‑blown love story. And because it’s opera, everything happens at lightning speed. Meanwhile, Musetta and Marcello continue their iconic on‑again, off‑again chaos – the kind of couple you pretend to judge but secretly root for.

Alex Halliday as Colline, Justin Welsh as Schaunard, Matthew White as Rodolfo, Thomas Goerz as Benoit, and Gregory Dahl as Marcello. Vancouver Opera’s 2026 production of La Bohème. Photo by Emily Cooper.

The whole thing is funny, romantic, messy, and heartbreaking – basically a prestige TV season condensed into two hours, but with soaring music that hits you right in the chest. Suddenly, your own life feels refreshingly uncomplicated.

Act II was a standout, transforming the Queen Elizabeth Theatre into a bustling Latin Quarter packed with vendors, children, and a full chorus that made the scene feel alive and electric. It was one of those moments where the stage feels bigger than the building it’s in.

And if the story feels familiar, it’s because it inspired the long‑running musical Rent, which reimagines La Bohème as a modern rock opera while keeping the emotional core intact – love, art, friendship, and the reality that youth doesn’t last forever.

With my friend Rosa who knows a lot about opera.

La Bohème runs until Sunday, May 3. For showtimes and tickets, visit Vancouver Opera. If you’ve never been to an opera, it’s time to go.

https://www.vancouveropera.ca/whats-on/la-boheme/

Art & Culture

Reflections of Glamour

If you’re even remotely into glamour, camp, or show-stopping fashion, the Reflections of Glamour: Bob Mackie presentation at the Palm Springs Art Museum is basically a must‑see.

It’s not a giant retrospective, and honestly, that’s part of the charm. It feels intimate, almost like you’ve slipped backstage into Mackie’s world for a moment.

I was lucky to have met Mackie on three separate occasions here in Palm Springs. I’m a huge fan of his work, obviously. He was very pleasant in person.

The museum has pulled together five original gowns and costumes, plus a curated selection of sketches spanning the 1970s through the 2000s. It’s a tight edit, but every piece hits.

You get that unmistakable Mackie blend of humor, theatricality, and pure sparkle – the kind of work that made Cher, Diana Ross, Tina Turner, Carol Burnett, Elton John, and so many others look larger than life.

One of the funniest skits I’ve yet to see was when Carol Burnett wore this for “Went With The Wind.” “*Just a little something I saw in the window.”*

One of the undeniable stars of the show is the “Scarlett O’Hara” gown from Carol Burnett’s legendary Went With the Wind parody – yes, the one with the actual curtain rod across the shoulders. Seeing the sketch next to the real gown is a delight, especially if you grew up watching that moment and laughing every single time. I did. I used to watch the show with my grandparents.

Because it’s housed in the Jorgensen Gallery on the ground floor, the whole thing feels focused and jewel-box-like – a little shrine to the art of making people gasp.

The presentation runs January 26 – March 30, 2026, and it was created to coincide with the museum’s annual Art Party gala, where Mackie himself was honored – with Carol Burnett presenting, naturally.

The Female Form

Over in the Female Form exhibition, the mood shifts from theatrical sparkle to something almost startlingly intimate. The sculptures are so hyper‑realistic you catch yourself slowing down, leaning in, trying to figure out where the artist’s hand ends and the illusion begins.

There’s a quiet power in seeing the body rendered with that much precision – every fold, freckle, and gesture captured with a kind of reverence that feels both modern and timeless. It’s one of those shows where you think you’re just popping in for a look, and suddenly you’re standing there longer than you meant to, completely absorbed.

Female Form: Tom Wesselmann & Mickalene Thomas from the Collections of Jordan D. Schnitzer and His Family Foundation

Reflections of Glamour: All works are courtesy of Bob Mackie. Special thanks to Joe McFate, Design Director for Bob Mackie. Exhibition support is provided by Revivals and DAP Health.

Photos: d. king

Art & Culture

AmDocs: Something to Entertain You

Where Art, Love and Magic Meet

What can I tell you about this artful documentary I just saw at the Palm Springs Cultural Centre? On the city’s largest screen, I attended the world premiere of Something to Entertain You, part of AmDocs – the American Documentary and Animation Film Festival, one of the largest and most respected documentary festivals in the country, featuring independent films and Academy Award-qualifying screenings.

The film celebrates the life and work of Karen and Tony Barone, two unforgettable creative forces here in the Coachella Valley. Their whimsical, larger‑than‑life sculptures are scattered along Hwy 111, on El Paseo (Palm Desert’s answer to Rodeo Drive), outside private homes, and even at the Palm Springs Animal Shelter. Even if you don’t know their names, you’ve seen their art. And once you meet them, you never forget them.

Filmmakers Jon and Mary Orlin spent years getting to know the Barones, and their documentary captures the couple’s world with so much heart. They reveal just enough of the mystery while still preserving the magic – a rare balance.

Mary & Jon Orlin outside the PS Cultural Center (used to be called The Camelot). Photo taken by Carla DeLuca.

I’ve been lucky to meet Karen and Tony several times over the years. I remember spotting them at Tropicale or at the Modernism Week Opening Party, long before I knew who they were. Karen, in particular, is impossible to ignore – a living work of art, effortlessly so.

The premiere exceeded every expectation. The theatre was packed with friends, fans, and familiar faces, and the film delivered more than a few surprises. I had no idea they once designed restaurants or created a one‑of‑a‑kind makeup line so unique that when Oprah walked into their SoHo store, she bought one of everything. Or that Andy Warhol invited them to lunch and couldn’t stop photographing Karen. To be honest, most people want to photograph her.

This was taken at the after-party at Il Corso – Palm Springs.

And then there’s Tony’s love for Karen – one of the most beautiful parts of the film. His admiration for her is deep, steady, and unwavering. He’s an extraordinary artist in his own right, yet he lets her shine without hesitation. It’s rare to witness a partnership like theirs.

Their life has been eclectic, bold, and endlessly creative…and it still is.

Something to Entertain You captures that spirit perfectly. The film just had a second screening here in the desert, and I can’t wait to see where it plays next. If you get the chance to watch it, don’t miss it. It’s absolutely worth seeing.

Here’s a previous Art + Fashion Blog Post I did on the Barone’s – it ties everything together:

https://girlwhowouldbeking.com/2023/03/06/monday-mood-art-fashion-with-the-barones/

Art & Culture

An Incredible Evening at Parr House

This is the final weekend of Palm Springs Modernism 2026 – the 11‑day celebration of mid‑century modern architecture, design, and culture that fills the desert with home tours, talks, parties, and exhibitions.

With Jen from @musetheshop – gorgeous vintage clothing – some worn on *Palm Royale*.

On Wednesday, I had the pleasure of spending an unforgettable evening at the Parr House, located within Cotino – the first Storyliving by Disney community in Rancho Mirage.

It’s a place with its own fascinating origin story, and being there during Modernism Week made it feel even more alive. It was a rare evening of witnessing the beginning of something special.

The next day a few of us were able to tour the Cotino site. While the community is still very much under construction, the vision is already taking shape. The floor plans are on display, and we walked through several finished (and nearly finished) homes. Even in their incomplete state, you can feel the intention behind the design: clean lines, generous light, and that blend of nostalgia and newness that fits so seamlessly with the spirit of Modernism Week. I love the indoor/outdoor living concept.

An Overview of Parr House from the second floor.

With Mathew Mitchell – Editor of *Oasis* – a gorgeous new Palm Springs magazine

With Alison Martino – Writer, TV Producer, Historian.

The Parr house itself is a standout. Parr House is inspired by a superhero family’s mid-century modern home in Pixar Animation Studios’ “Incredibles 2.” The home is designed to be rented out exclusively for special events and gatherings. Our evening there felt wonderfully curated – an excellent jazz trio playing in the background, an open wine bar, and delicious hors d’oeuvres being generously passed around. It was a bonus to see some people I know and other familiar faces.

What struck me most about the Parr House wasn’t just the architecture – though the mid‑century lines and playful details are unmistakably Pixar. It was the feeling of stepping into a space that blurs fiction and reality. You can sense the whimsy of The Incredibles woven into a real, livable home. The mix of design and storytelling made the exprience feel a little magical.

As Cotino continues to rise from the desert floor, it’s clear that the Parr House is more than just a showpiece – it’s a promise of what this community is striving to become. Experiencing it during Modernism Week, surrounded by people who appreciate both design and imagination, made the whole project feel especially meaningful.

There’s something exciting about watching a place come to life in real time, and I’m looking forward to seeing how Cotino grows into the vision it’s already hinting at. A few photos:

More about the Parr House (written by Karlee Dutton, Public Relations Manager) here:

https://disneyparksblog.com/storyliving/first-look-inside-the-incredible-parr-house-coming-soon-to-cotino-the-first-storyliving-by-disney-community/

Pics: d. king

Art & Culture

The First Lady of Modernism

There are moments at Modernism Week that feel like stepping into a time capsule – and then there are moments that feel like stepping into history itself. Like when you get to meet a Modernism icon.

My signed “Palm Springs Life” cover – a keeper!

I was wandering through the Modernism Show at the Palm Springs Convention Center when I met Nelda Linsk – a prominent Palm Springs fashion figure, art dealer, and former owner of the Kaufmann House – better known as the First Lady of Modernism and forever remembered as ‘the lady in yellow’ from Slim Aarons’ Poolside Gossip.

The image is celebrated for capturing the glamorous mid-century modern lifestyle of the era. Yellow is such a magnetic color – warm, bold, impossible to ignore. It’s the color of joy, of desert mornings, of the kind of optimism Modernism was built on. No wonder the world noticed her first in that shade. There was a lot of beauty in that iconic photograph, but all eyes centered on Nelda.

I can only imagine what it must feel like to be hanging in so many people’s homes.

Nelda is having another mod moment. Her relevance and glow seems to never fade, as she’s gracing the February cover of Palm Springs Life Magazine and has just received a star on the Palm Springs Walk of Fame.

In Poolside Gossip, the yellow dress became a symbol of Modernism’s optimism – bright, confident, sun‑soaked. But when I met her, dressed in understated cream, she carried the same light. It reminded me that Modernism wasn’t just about color or architecture. It was about people who embodied a certain kind of brightness. The kind once attributed to a dress was really the brightness of a woman who helped define an era.

Walking away from the show, I kept thinking about that shift from yellow to cream – from the bold brightness of youth to the softer, steadier glow of someone who has carried an era forward.

Modernism may be defined by its architecture, but its spirit lives on in people like Nelda Linsk, who remind us that true radiance doesn’t fade. It simply changes hue.

Here is another post I wrote last year – the first time I met Nelda and more about the photograph and the person who took it:

Slim Aarons: from bombs to bombshells

Modernism is on until Sunday, February 22, 2026.

Outside the Convention Center Below are some pics from what’s waiting inside. Photos: d. king

Auction coming up of *The Estate of Joanna Carson* (wife of Johnny Carson)- March 3, 2026. John Moran Auctioneers & Appraisers. Shown here is a sampling.

So many beautiful vintage buys besides furniture and art at this show – as with the “***Curated Vintage Event.***“

https://modernismweek.com/2026/

Art & Culture

Artist Center Palm Desert

Last week, my friend Kathy and I attended a reception celebrating a dynamic collection of juried artworks presented by the Artists Council of Coachella Valley.

The event took place at The Galen – an elegant 8,400‑square‑foot, LEED‑certified art venue (recognized for its environmentally conscious design) in Palm Desert near El Paseo.

The stunning space set the perfect tone for an evening devoted to creativity.

Several of our friends had pieces on display (and for sale), selected from more than 700 submissions by Artists Council members. The range of work was impressive, and it was wonderful to see familiar names among the chosen artists.

Our friend Libby sold her piece that evening. She works with a unique form that revolves around using refined organic cotton material, which Libby then transforms into sculptured ethereal compositions. The only surviving record and reminder of it is via photograph. The original materials are recycled for other creations. One small piece may be used in many ways for different creations…signifying there is a place for everything. No waste.

The Artists Council is an independent non-profit dedicated to elevating artists throughout the Coachella Valley and beyond. Their mission comes to life through exhibitions, professional development opportunities, and meaningful community engagement. They offer a robust lineup of programs – everything from art and business‑of‑art classes to workshops, lectures, critiques, salons, and social gatherings.

Friend Mandy Main with her husband and son next to her art piece.

At the heart of their work is a belief in the transformative power of art – both in its creation and in the experience of viewing it.

It was a lovely evening filled with art, conversation, and hors d’oeuvres, and a reminder of how vibrant and supportive our local arts community truly is. Photos: d.king

https://www.artistscouncil.com/

They have a very nice gift shop too with books, gift cards and several very Palm Springs framed prints.

Art & Culture, Film Reviews

Elvis, Rocky and Me: The Carol Connors Story.

The world premiere of a remarkable documentary was last night – part of the Palm Springs International Film Festival. I, and the audience, loved Elvis, Rocky and Me: The Carol Connors Story.

Carol (and her boxing gloves) with Screenwriter: Dahlia Heyman and Director/Producer/Screenwriter: Alex Rotaru

The documentary is based on her blockbuster memoir by the same name (the audiobook was recently nominated for a Grammy). Watching this documentary felt like opening a time capsule packed with charisma, chaos, and the unmistakable spark of a woman who refuses to dim.

Carol Connors is the kind of dynamo who could write a hit, charm a legend, and still get herself kicked out of a studio by Dionne Warwick – all before lunch.

To know her, is to love her – say all of Carol’s friends.

I heard the name before, but admittedly I didn’t know a lot about Carol Connors, other than she dated Elvis Presley (after he co-starred with Ann-Margret in “Viva Las Vegas”), co-wrote the iconic Rocky theme song (minimalist but powerful lyrics to “Gonna Fly Now” – which was nominated for an Academy Award) and had a #1 hit single (“To Know Him Is to Love Him”) recorded by The Teddy Bears, which became a major hit, reaching number one on the Billboard Hot 100 in late 1958, where it stayed for three weeks and launched producer Phil Spector’s career. It went on to have several renditions after that – my favorite sung by Dolly Parton, Linda Ronstadt and EmmyLou Harris (their version became a #1 country hit and was featured on their Grammy-winning album “Trio“).

I guess that alone seems like enough right? However, there’s so much more that I wasn’t sure where to begin writing this post because…

Before the documentary even begins, you realize Carol Connors didn’t just witness pop culture history…she helped write it, one hook, one heartbreak, and one heavyweight anthem at a time.

I did a bit of research beforehand, but had no idea of the scope of her legacy. Some people live a life. Carol Connors lived a soundtrack. One that starts with Phil Spector, flirts with Elvis Presley, and punches its way into the Oscars with Rocky.

With **Kathy Garver** (from *Family Affair,* an author and voice for Carol’s memoir audio book – see links of where to buy below.

The documentary is interspersed with interviews on major talk shows and snippets of conversations she’s had with Hugh Hefner, Mike Tyson and O.J. Simpson.

Believe me, I’m still not giving too much away. Remember the legendary Shelby Cobra roadster designed by Carroll Shelby? Connors wrote “Hey Little Cobra.” Here’s the fun part: she didn’t just write it about the car – she wrote it for Carroll Shelby himself, after he told her that if she wrote him a hit, he’d give her a Cobra. And he actually did. The song became a major hit, reaching No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Only Carol Connors could turn a conversation with Carroll Shelby into a chart‑topping hit, and drive away in the car she wrote about.

At the end of the documentary, there was a Q&A followed by Carol singing a song called “You Loved My Night Away“that she wrote (music & lyrics) on the day Elvis Presley died. They stayed friends up until the end. She still has a beautiful voice and the song is also beautiful.

What a glamorous, fabulous life.

Director/Producer: Alex Rotaru

Executive Producer: Julian Warshaw.

Screenwriters: Dahlia Heyman, Alex Rotaru

Cast: Carol Connors, Bill Conti, Talia Shire, Mike Tyson, Diane Warren, Dionne Warwick, Barbi Benton, Irwin Winkler.

The Film Festival is on until January 12^th, 2026. Film Finder and Tickets:

https://www.psfilmfest.org/film-festival-2026/film-finder/elvis-rocky-and-me-the-carol-connors-story

https://www.psfilmfest.org/film-festival-2026/film-finder

*You can buy Carol Connors’ memoir Elvis, Rocky and Me from major online retailers like Amazon, Walmart, and Target, or directly from the publisher BearManor Media, with options for paperback, hardcover, and Kindle e-book, plus an audiobook narrated by Kathy Garver.